" In the early days, when they thought this epidemic was much like other epidemics, religion held its ground. But once these people realized their instant peril, they gave their thoughts to pleasure. And all the hideous fears that stamo their faces in the daytime are transformed in the fiery, dusty nightfall into a sort of hectic exaltation, an unkempt freedom fevering their blood.... And I, too, I'm no different. But what matter? Death means nothing to men like me. It's the event that proves them right" (Camus 121).
In my opinion, this is all that needs to be read of The Plague to understand why this book deserves the title of "Outstanding". The Plague outlines the effects of desperation and isolation on the human spirit. The realization of death and suffering, abandonment and compassion are also all topics brought to the surface and exemplified throughout. The Plague tells the story of the French Port of Oran on the Algerian Coast when plague sets in and the entire port is quarantined. People are separated without contact from all friends and family. Trade is shut off as well, so there is limited food supply in an area where people are already in a state of panic. When the realization of their iminent death comes to the citizens of Oran,they face death as well as time to focus on relationships with the people they care about most and their overall satisfaction with their accomplisments in life. Another prospect is finding no explanation for the plague affecting the port and the denial of the general public of the death of two-thirds of its citizens. The Plague shows many examples to support a general theme of facism in the port of Oran. Facism settles in when the quarantine is put into effect. The laws, or rules, of facism become strongly apparent in the once mellow and easy-going port town. Supremacy of mililtary and government is apparent when, even though the death toll due to the plague in Oran had reached a staggering 130 deaths per day, the controlled mass media publishes only daily death tolls, instead of weekly, to never publish such a high number as 1,000(the weekly death toll), and try to control the level of panic in the port.
Still following the laws of facism, in benefit only to the government in Oran, people affected with the plague are not appropriatley treated because only one unsanitary temporary hospital has been established. This leads to overcrowded hospitals and overworked staff members caring for the sick. Instead of receiving health care in the hospital, people choose to die at home, making the living areas of Oran a somber and death-filled place in the port.
"All agreed that the amenities of the past could'nt be restored at once; destruction is an easier, speedier process than reconstruction" (Camus 269).This is said at the beginning of Part 5, when the plague is in a sort of recession from infecting anyone new in Oran. At this point, the citizens of Oran have come to expect the worst possible in almost any situation in life. Those who have now survived the plague are weary, fatigued and alone, after not having seen their separated friends and family while Oran was under quarantine.
Work Cited:
Camus, Albert. The Plague New York , Vintage Books 1948
The Plague Albert Camus
" In the early days, when they thought this epidemic was much like other epidemics, religion held its ground. But once these people realized their instant peril, they gave their thoughts to pleasure. And all the hideous fears that stamo their faces in the daytime are transformed in the fiery, dusty nightfall into a sort of hectic exaltation, an unkempt freedom fevering their blood.... And I, too, I'm no different. But what matter? Death means nothing to men like me. It's the event that proves them right" (Camus 121).
In my opinion, this is all that needs to be read of The Plague to understand why this book deserves the title of "Outstanding". The Plague outlines the effects of desperation and isolation on the human spirit. The realization of death and suffering, abandonment and compassion are also all topics brought to the surface and exemplified throughout.
The Plague tells the story of the French Port of Oran on the Algerian Coast when plague sets in and the entire port is quarantined. People are separated without contact from all friends and family. Trade is shut off as well, so there is limited food supply in an area where people are already in a state of panic. When the realization of their iminent death comes to the citizens of Oran,they face death as well as time to focus on relationships with the people they care about most and their overall satisfaction with their accomplisments in life. Another prospect is finding no explanation for the plague affecting the port and the denial of the general public of the death of two-thirds of its citizens.
The Plague shows many examples to support a general theme of facism in the port of Oran. Facism settles in when the quarantine is put into effect. The laws, or rules, of facism become strongly apparent in the once mellow and easy-going port town. Supremacy of mililtary and government is apparent when, even though the death toll due to the plague in Oran had reached a staggering 130 deaths per day, the controlled mass media publishes only daily death tolls, instead of weekly, to never publish such a high number as 1,000(the weekly death toll), and try to control the level of panic in the port.
Still following the laws of facism, in benefit only to the government in Oran, people affected with the plague are not appropriatley treated because only one unsanitary temporary hospital has been established. This leads to overcrowded hospitals and overworked staff members caring for the sick. Instead of receiving health care in the hospital, people choose to die at home, making the living areas of Oran a somber and death-filled place in the port.
"All agreed that the amenities of the past could'nt be restored at once; destruction is an easier, speedier process than reconstruction" (Camus 269).This is said at the beginning of Part 5, when the plague is in a sort of recession from infecting anyone new in Oran. At this point, the citizens of Oran have come to expect the worst possible in almost any situation in life. Those who have now survived the plague are weary, fatigued and alone, after not having seen their separated friends and family while Oran was under quarantine.
Work Cited:
Camus, Albert. The Plague New York , Vintage Books 1948